Union Minister for Steel and Heavy Industries and JD(S) Karnataka state president H.D. Kumaraswamy has levelled serious allegations against Karnataka Home Minister and Congress leader Priyank Kharge over alleged irregularities in the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) recruitment of Assistant Executive Engineer Grade-I posts, as reported in The New Indian Express.
Kumaraswamy alleged that the recruitment process was compromised when Kharge was serving as the Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj. He accused Kharge of allegedly protecting officials facing allegations of recruitment irregularities and demanded that he take responsibility and resign as Home Minister.
Addressing a press conference in Mysuru on Friday, Kumaraswamy alleged that a “Priyank-sponsored system” was operating in Karnataka.
He claimed that the KPSC recruitment process had been compromised through manipulation of OMR answer sheets and alleged that Kharge had allowed the appointments to proceed despite findings pointing to irregularities.
Kumaraswamy Alleges OMR Sheet Tampering
Kumaraswamy released what he described as investigation records and OMR sheets, claiming they showed evidence of tampering using carbon paper.
According to him, a forensic examination had established irregularities in the selection of 24 candidates and found that their OMR sheets had been tampered with.
He said a sub-committee constituted to examine the matter had identified discrepancies and issued notices to all 24 candidates. Of them, 20 reportedly appeared before the panel.
The committee subsequently referred the OMR sheets for forensic examination along with CCTV footage sought from the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPR), Kumaraswamy claimed.
Despite these findings, he alleged, the appointments were allowed to proceed during Kharge’s tenure as Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister.
Accuses Kharge Of Protecting IAS Officer
Kumaraswamy also targeted Kharge over his alleged protection of IAS officer Gyanendra Gangwar, who was the Controller of Examinations at the KPSC during the recruitment process.
He alleged that Gangwar was facing allegations connected with recruitment irregularities but was nevertheless being protected by Kharge.
Kumaraswamy also referred to Kharge’s statements on the KPSC and alleged a contradiction between his public criticism of the commission and his handling of officials accused of irregularities.
He alleged that while Kharge had spoken about the RSS and the need to abolish the KPSC, he was simultaneously protecting an officer facing allegations over the commission’s recruitment process.
Kumaraswamy said the issue represented a case where the institution responsible for overseeing recruitment had allegedly become part of the irregularities it was supposed to prevent.
Questions Gangwar’s Disappearance
Kumaraswamy further questioned the circumstances surrounding Gangwar’s reported disappearance following Enforcement Directorate searches.
He pointed to what he described as inconsistencies in Kharge’s statements regarding the officer’s whereabouts.
According to Kumaraswamy, Kharge had initially said that Gangwar had travelled to Lucknow with government permission because of his father’s illness and was expected to return within a few days.
However, Kumaraswamy claimed that Kharge subsequently said on August 25 that he did not know where Gangwar was.
Kumaraswamy questioned how the Home Minister could claim not to know the whereabouts of an officer facing allegations connected to a major recruitment controversy.
He asked why Kharge was continuing to head the Home Department if he did not know where such an officer was.
Alleges Irregularities In Veterinary Officer Recruitment
Kumaraswamy also alleged that irregularities extended beyond the KPSC Assistant Executive Engineer recruitment.
He claimed that similar allegations had surfaced in the recruitment of around 400 veterinary officers.
According to Kumaraswamy, a complainant had alleged that veterinary officer posts were being sold for approximately ₹80 lakh each.
He further claimed that the officer concerned in that case had also gone missing after the Enforcement Directorate registered a case.
Kumaraswamy alleged that the Karnataka High Court had directed the state government to hand over the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), but claimed that an FIR had not yet been registered.
Questions KPSC Appointment Process
Kumaraswamy also alleged that a provisional list of candidates had been finalised by the then KPSC secretary without obtaining approval from the commission’s chairman and members.
He questioned who was responsible for the alleged irregularities and demanded that the government establish who had allegedly received kickbacks in connection with the recruitment process.
He alleged that the developments pointed to a wider system of manipulation within the recruitment process and sought accountability from those holding ministerial and administrative responsibility.
Kumaraswamy said he would release additional documents concerning the alleged irregularities in the coming days.
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